Alleged honour killing victim reached out for help before her murder, court hears

Randjida Khairi, alleged honour killing victim, reached out for help before her death, court hears

Randjida Khairi threw out a handful of lifelines in the months before she died by her husband’s knife.

One landed with Gulaly Nawabi, a mental-health support worker with the Afghan Women’s Organization, which helps new immigrants settle into Canadian life. After Ms. Khairi’s case was referred to her, Ms. Nawabi contacted the slight, frail woman to offer support.

“She said, ‘I will call you when I need you,'” Ms. Nawabi testified Thursday at the second-degree murder trial of Peer Khairi.

The Crown alleges Mr. Khairi, 65, slit his wife’s throat in a fury at her willingness to adopt Canadian values and to allow their six children to do the same.

Ms. Khairi did call, repeatedly. Ms. Nawabi was in touch with the family more than a dozen times, the court heard, in the year before Mr. Khairi cut his 53-year-old wife’s throat open on March 18, 2008.

Sometimes, their discussions entirely skirted the personal; the Khairis were on social assistance and required help with practical day-to-day matters.

Other times, Ms. Khairi spoke of her growing despair.

“She was under emotional pressure. She felt isolated,” Ms. Nawabi recalled, citing a conversation in May 2007.